“Send this coffee to the gentleman at the opposite table,” Sophia said with a slight smirk. It was just a matter of reciprocation—since Scott Livinus had sent her a latte, it was only fair for her to return the favor.
When Logan returned from the restroom and saw the coffee on the table, he smiled warmly. “Did you order coffee? I thought you said you don’t drink coffee.”
“I did, but this one’s for you,” Sophia said with a smile, pushing the “Heartbreaker Woman” coffee toward him. Feeling the sharp gaze from behind her, she added with a chuckle, “Give it a try!”
Logan accepted her suggestion graciously and took a sip. “It tastes good, just a bit too sweet,” he remarked, his lips curling into a smile.
On the other side of the room, Scott Livinus watched coldly, his expression darkening as he stared at Sophia. When he saw her push the coffee toward Logan, his gaze turned icy, and the tension radiating from him filled the air.
Kim returned to their table and, noticing Sophia, asked in a low voice, “Isn’t that Henry’s wife?”
“Yes,” Scott replied absentmindedly.
Kim let out a sarcastic laugh. “So, she’s here on a blind date? Isn’t it inappropriate to do that before finalizing a divorce?”
Scott raised his gaze, his tone indifferent. “You think it’s inappropriate too?”
The use of “too” caught Kim off guard. She smiled, pleased with his agreement, and nodded. “Of course! A woman who’s not yet divorced but is eager to date—it does come across as marital infidelity. Henry has his affairs, but a woman shouldn’t be held to the same standard as a man, right?”
Scott’s attention drifted to his teacup, where a few leaves floated on the surface. The swirling motion unsettled him, leaving him inexplicably irritated.
“Exactly,” he said coldly, blowing on the tea with a voice laced with frost. “How could she go on a blind date?”
His fingers tightened around the teacup, the grip so firm it let out a faint creak.
Just then, a server approached with a coffee and placed it in front of Scott, winking subtly. “Here’s your coffee.”
Scott frowned, glancing at the menu. His gaze landed on the name of the coffee Sophia had sent him—“Drama Queen”.
His expression darkened further.
Logan left a positive impression on Sophia. In another life, if she’d met someone like him on a blind date, she might have considered a relationship. But now, she couldn’t muster such feelings. She only agreed to this meeting out of respect for Chloe’s goodwill.
As they exited the café, Logan pulled up his car and smiled. “Let me drive you home.”
“I’ll call a cab.”
“Come on! It’s our first meeting—if I let you go home alone, Chloe will have my head!” he joked.
Sophia laughed. Logan’s car hadn’t gone far before a sleek black sports car screeched to a halt in front of them, blocking the road.
Logan hit the brakes hard, while Sophia frowned at the car ahead.
It was Scott Livinus’s car. Kim wasn’t in the passenger seat, and a dark, brooding expression replaced Scott’s usual composure.
Logan leaned out of the window and greeted him with a polite smile. “Mr. Scott, what a coincidence!”
“Mr. Logan.”
“Do you need to pass through?”
“If you’re in a hurry, you go first,” Scott replied in an icy tone.
“I’m not in a hurry,” Logan said, his smile unwavering. “Unlike Mr. Scott, my time isn’t quite so precious. Besides, when you’re with a beautiful lady, you always hope time slows down a little.”
Logan’s comment seemed to deepen the shadows in Scott’s expression. Even from a distance, Sophia could sense the chill emanating from him.
The central air conditioning must have turned on—time to steer clear.
Logan reversed the car, and Scott hit the gas, speeding away without another word.
After a brief pause, Logan turned to Sophia with an apologetic smile. “I forgot that under these circumstances, you might want to avoid the Scott family.”
Sophia shook her head with a faint smile. “It’s not a big deal.”
Chloe was eager for feedback about the blind date. She and Nancy even insisted on a meeting later that evening. After closing the clinic at eight, Sophia reluctantly joined them at the agreed-upon karaoke spot, only to find Liam and Chloe’s husband already there.
“Sophia, what did you think of Logan?” Chloe asked.
“He’s a decent man.”
“Glad to hear it!” Chloe said approvingly. “Logan was my university classmate and one of the most popular guys on campus. He started his own business while we were still in school, and now his company is listed. More importantly, he has a great character. Do you know what he said when I asked if he minded his blind date being divorced?”
Sophia shook her head.
“He said, ‘Why would I mind? A woman doesn’t lose value because she’s been married, nor does she gain value because she hasn’t.’”
His words improved Sophia’s impression of him. Society often treated divorced women unfairly, but Logan’s personal success and open-minded attitude stood out. Whether he was genuine or just being polite, his response left a positive impression.
“And what about you?” Chloe asked with a knowing smile. “What do you think of him?”
Sophia was honest. “He’s fine, but I’m not divorced yet. I’m not ready to start a new relationship.”
Chloe nodded in understanding. “That’s fair. Still, I hope you give him a chance. He’s young and accomplished but also desires a family. You’ve been through a lot, and he could be a stable partner. He’s far better than Henry ever was. Marrying him would certainly irritate your husband!”
Sophia chuckled.
Chloe sang beautifully, favoring old classics, while Nancy was a karaoke queen, rocking English hits with remarkable authenticity. She even danced, bringing the energy in the room to a high.
Liam tried to take the mic after Nancy had sung several songs in a row, but she resisted, and he playfully pushed her onto the couch.
As the playful scuffle continued, the door suddenly opened.
Scott Livinus walked in.
Liam handed him the mic with a grin. “Scott, you’re just in time. Here, sing something!”
“Big brother Scott, take the mic! Don’t let my brother sing—he kicked me!” Nancy chimed in, snatching the mic to hand it to Scott.
